Buncha Stuff

31072009

I’m finishing up Volume I of Lincoln’s Collected Works(there are 11 volumes in all, plus an index for the first nine). Rather than post interesting tidbits as I found them, I’ve decided that after I finish each volume I’ll go back to all my little post-its and put up one article listing them. So look for a summary post next week.

I haven’t forgotten the post on Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, and the characteristics of the Southern officer class that hindered its ability to lead effectively. I’m sure the article, when written, will piss some folks off, and maybe that’s why I keep putting it off. But all the books I’m consulting are still sitting in a stack on my office floor.

I need some info on Hugh Judson Kilpatrick. Does anyone know how, when, and why he received his nickname, Kill Cavalry? I’m not looking for opinion or generally accepted legend – in fact, if you give that to me in a comment, I’ll delete it. I’m looking for documented evidence: when and where did the name first appear, and in what context?

My First Bull Run Field Guide for Civil War Times magazine should be showing up in subscriber’s mailboxes soon. I’ll post some thoughts on the article once I receive my copy.

Civil War Sallie visited the Manassas National Battlefield Park a couple weekends ago for the anniversary of the battle, and wrote about it in multiple installments here. Check it out.

Information

2 responses

1082009

Larry Freiheit(10:37:07) :

Harry,

In “Kill-Cavalry” by Martin, the first three times he uses that phrase he does not cite anything (pp. 49, 54, 56). The cite on p. 49 is close to a quote from Meyer, “Civil War Experiences Under Bayard, Gregg, Kilpatrick and Custer” but I don’t have access to that book. Looks like Martin may be using “Kill-Cavalry” as a hindsight nom de guerre for Kilpatrick in these instances.

On p. 62, Martin cites “Personal Recollections of a Cavalryman with Custer’s Michigan Cavalry” by James Harvey Kidd p. 165: ” It was not long till every man in the division had seen him and knew him well. In a few days he had fairly earned the soubriquet “Kill Cavalry,” which clung to him till he left for the west. This was not because men were killed while under his command, for that was their business and every trooper knew that death was liable to come soon or late, while he was in the line of duty, but for the reason that so many lives were sacrificed by him for no good purpose whatever.”

This book was published in 1908 so hindsight is likely in play here, too. Contemporary ccounts by troopers or newspapers may be of value when found.

Larry Tagg’s in his “The Generals at Gettysburg,” writes “Despite earning his nickname “Kill-Cavalry” at Gettysburg, Kilpatrick showed no signs of learning from Farnsworth’s disaster.” However, there are no footnotes.

Dulce bellum inexpertis

“I am sending you these little incidents as I hear them well authenticated. They form, to the friends of the parties, part of the history of the glorious 21st. More anon.”

About

Hello! I’m Harry Smeltzer and welcome to Bull Runnings, where you'll find my digital history project on the First Battle of Bull Run which is organized under the Bull Run Resources section. I'll also post my thoughts on the processes behind the project and commentary on the campaign, but pretty much all things Civil War are fair game. You'll only find musings on my “real job” or my personal life when they relate to this project. My mother always told me "never discuss politics or religion in mixed company”, and that's sound advice where current events are concerned.

The Project

This site is more than a blog. Bull Runnings also hosts digitized material pertaining to First Bull Run. In the Bull Run Resources link in the masthead and also listed below are links to Orders of Battle, After Action Reports, Official Correspondence, Biographical Sketches, Diaries, Letters, Memoirs, Newspaper Accounts and much, much more. Take some time to surf through the material. This is a work in process with no end in sight, so check back often!